Mixed Media Monthly Challenge for August

I always have a blast working on mixed media pieces for the Mixed Media Challenge Blog. This month's challenge is to use text in your project. I LOVE using text in my projects.

 If you are new to the challenge - please join in! Go to the homepage for the place to post the link of your project.

Here's my project.

"Swamp Tours" is 28" x 30" on stretched canvas. I used papers, burlap, gold leafing, seed beads, cardstock tag, fabric alphabets, cardstock stickers and paint. The surface was sealed with a layer of resin.

Here's a closeup of the alphabet before I poured the resin.

We can't wait to see what you come up with for the challenge. Here are the rules:

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. 

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.
* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 

* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post
* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board
* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 
* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.
* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

Thanks for stopping by!

March with Mixed Media Monthly Challenge

The design team has been busy creating some fun products for the March Mixed Media Monthly Challenge. We have been so thrilled with the number of folks creating and participating in these each month.

Our theme for March is "Birds of a Feather".

Create something that reminds you of birds - birds, feathers, wings, quotes, nests, eggs.... be creative! Let us know how birds inspired your project.


Here's my project for this month.

I collaged patterned papers on a 9x12 stretched canvas. I then used acrylic paint draw the design and add color to the images.

Our sponsor this month is Faber Castell Design Memory Craft. They are offering Gelato prize packs to 2 lucky winners!

One winner will win Mixed Media with Gelatos kit

Another winner will win the Card Making With Gelatos kit.

To enter this challenge, link your project to the space provided on the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge blog.  Be sure to visit all the designer's pages for tips and info on their creations.

Thanks for stopping by and happy creating!

Gearing up for Mixed Media Class Number Two

The first mixed media class was this week. What a fun group of creative ladies. I had a little surprise when the woman that urged me to have the class walked in with her mother. I knew her mother and had not seen her I over ten years. I just didn't know these ladies were related! What a small world!

I used wood blocks and show basic collage using dress pattern paper, patterned scrapbook paper, and adding texture with ink and household stencils (things you find around the house). The ladies took the ideas and created their own designs. Here are a few pics.

For those taking the class, a recap of some of the things talked about. For art supplies, check out:

http://www.dickblick.com

For scrapbook products:

Emmas Paperie

Mixed media products

Scarlet Lime

And one of the students recommended watching Donna Downey videos at

Donna Downey

For the next class, don't forget to bring:

Your choice of surface...canvas or wood. If you being wood, please have it primed with a water based primer or gesso so you can start right away.

Papers for collage

Paints- your choice of colors and brands. All acrylic or latex (water based)

If you have stencils, bring them but don't buy until you see demo

And the regular items, brushes, mod podge, paper towels, scissors

Notebook with ideas of what you might want to create and anything else you might want to incorporate with your piece....alphabet stickers...etc

Don't forget a small jar.

I will be demonstrating a collage background using paper and stencils. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions before then.

Thanks for stopping by.

Mixed Media Flowers and Vase

I'm posting this before/after artwork for the March challenge on the Design Memory Craft's blog. I love using paper, stickers, paint, stamps and ink on my collage pieces. This one is something I haven't done before in mixed media - a flower vase collage.

I love using wood for my mixed media pieces. They give them a rustic (and green) feel. First I primed the wood with gesso, then painted the sides. I then started layering tissue, papers, etc... usually freehand cutting (is that a word) the shapes for each piece. Here is a photo of the progress.

There's a lace doily at the top (found object in a box of giftwrapping and decorating items). I used Faber-Castell's gelatos (blue and green) to shade the sides of the paper. I applied it directly to the piece and used my finger with a bit of water to spread it out randomly.

I added stickers and wassi tape. I added paint to the flowers. I used a Pitt pen to draw some of the leaves and accent various places. I used stamps, ink, paint and various textures all over the piece. - finishing off with a few more stickers and some butterflies.

Once I call a piece "done", it gets its hardware and it's ready for hanging. The size of this is 11.5" x 5.5".

Thanks for stopping by today and have a great week.

Key to My Heart Mixed Media Collage

Before February is completely over, I wanted to share a mixed media collage piece I did for the Gallery Crawl we had a few weeks ago. I used a variety of papers, washi tape, a doily, a tag, stamps, chipboard and wire, nail and a key. A gentleman and his wife were strolling through the gallery and he bought it but didn't want his wife to know, so he got it a few days later. I hope she loved it.

Key to My Heart Mixed Media Collage

The surface is wood. I use Faber Castell Big Brush Pens and Pitt Pens, Stayz On Ink, and a variety of acrylic paints. I had drew and hand cut the heart. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!